Reacquaintances

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of becoming familiar with someone again after a period of separation
2. A renewed recognition or relationship with an individual previously known
3. The process of reestablishing familiarity with another person

Etymology: "Reacquaintances" is the plural of "reacquaintance", a noun formed by adding the prefix "re-" (meaning again) to "acquaintance". The base word "acquaintance" comes from the Middle English "acquaintance," itself built from the verb "acquaint," which descends from Old French "acointier" (to make known, to make familiar), ultimately from Latin "accognitare," a compound of "ad-" and "cognoscere" (to know). So an acquaintance is, at root, someone with whom you have become known. Adding "re-" produces a noun for the renewed act of getting to know someone once more. The plural form, "reacquaintances," counts separate occasions of this renewal, such as a string of catch-up meetings after years apart. The word is a transparent formation, so its meaning follows directly from its parts.